Toes, who'd have 'em.

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fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Fussy delicate little things aren't they ! Fortunately, I'm blessed with healthy feet, all except one big toe, and it was my own stupid fault.

Managed to break it just over two years ago - stubbed my toe on a heavy engine crane. Usual stuff, toe went black and blue and nail bed badly bruised.

Slowly but surely, the black nail started to grow out with a 'ridge' between the new healthy nail and the dead nail. Some months later the damaged nail split and fell off at 'the ridge'.

That's when things started to be a royal pain. The nail didn't grow back straight, and would dig into my toe. Also found the nail is very brittle. Finally it's grown back, but I have to keep a close eye on it for ingrown nail edges due to how brittle the nail is.

It's fine on the bike, but will randomly start bleeding when walking, due to a bit of nail sticking into my toe. I seem to get a few months of no problems, then I'll knock my toe, and off it starts again. Literally this week, it's been bleeding again, and upon cleaning the wound, a sharp piece of nail came out.

Oh the relief. Ingrown nails are one of the most painful things ever.
 

Electric_Andy

Heavy Metal Fan
Location
Plymouth
Fussy delicate little things aren't they ! Fortunately, I'm blessed with healthy feet, all except one big toe, and it was my own stupid fault.

Managed to break it just over two years ago - stubbed my toe on a heavy engine crane. Usual stuff, toe went black and blue and nail bed badly bruised.

Slowly but surely, the black nail started to grow out with a 'ridge' between the new healthy nail and the dead nail. Some months later the damaged nail split and fell off at 'the ridge'.

That's when things started to be a royal pain. The nail didn't grow back straight, and would dig into my toe. Also found the nail is very brittle. Finally it's grown back, but I have to keep a close eye on it for ingrown nail edges due to how brittle the nail is.

It's fine on the bike, but will randomly start bleeding when walking, due to a bit of nail sticking into my toe. I seem to get a few months of no problems, then I'll knock my toe, and off it starts again. Literally this week, it's been bleeding again, and upon cleaning the wound, a sharp piece of nail came out.

Oh the relief. Ingrown nails are one of the most painful things ever.

You have my sympathy. Is it worth getting it checked out at the Dr? They might refer you for the dreaded ingrowing toenail surgery but the wait would probably be a long one now.

My sister had to have both hers done when she was about 18. Both sites cut out on both toes, it wasn't pleasant
 

Ajax Bay

Guru
Location
East Devon
A fellow worker had had both his big toe nails cauterised (because he'd had grief from them). I was rather impressed. In the spirit of the thread title, your big toes make a significant contribution to balance but not sure the toenails make any difference.
Lack thereof (the nails that is) means one can't paint and display them, I guess.
 
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bobzmyunkle

Über Member
You have my sympathy. Is it worth getting it checked out at the Dr? They might refer you for the dreaded ingrowing toenail surgery but the wait would probably be a long one now.
Is it worth finding a good chiropodist? I had a similar problem and the doctor sent me to a specialist who was going to do surgery.
I visited a chiropodist, who hacked about at my toenail* for a while and the problem was solved.
* parts of the toenail you wouldn't believe could be exposed - quite a painful process and not for the squeamish.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Is it worth finding a good chiropodist? I had a similar problem and the doctor sent me to a specialist who was going to do surgery.
I visited a chiropodist, who hacked about at my toenail* for a while and the problem was solved.
* parts of the toenail you wouldn't believe could be exposed - quite a painful process and not for the squeamish.

Thought about it, but the pain wouldn't be fun. Seems settled at the moment since the bit of nail came off, but being a toe, when the nail cuts the skin it can soon get infected.
 

Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
I've also had problems with my toe nails. After wearing sandals for a number of years, it's all I wear here, I wore shoes for a trip to the UK. They must have been rather tight as both nails decided they didn't like it and it all became squishy and they removed. Both grew back again but it does make you wonder we have them.
 

sleuthey

Legendary Member
Oh the relief. Ingrown nails are one of the most painful things ever.
I removed one myself around 9 months ago with screwdriver and pliers. Photos available on request. On my big toe. When it became infected a week later the nurse at the surgery said it really broke up her day to hear that id kept everything sterile with Cillit Bang.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
What, no pictures to weird people out?

He can keep 'em. Pliers and screwdriver. Blimey, makes the handy little 'nail kit' of mine seem luxurious.
 
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fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Photo warning....


Screenshot 2024-02-22 125531.jpg
 

Electric_Andy

Heavy Metal Fan
Location
Plymouth
Odd isn't it that with the human body being a marvel of bio engineering and able to absorb a lot of abuse, but badly damage teeth or feet and most of us have great difficulty in functioning. :whistle:

Imagine how it must have been in the middle ages. ok, their diet wasn't as bad (no acidic drinks or processed sugar) but I imagine the person who fashioned pliers out of bone/stone was very popular
 
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